Geranium plant named ‘Pacwhipearl’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Ivy Geranium plant named ‘Pacwhipearl’, characterized by its compact, outwardly spreading to trailing and cascading plant habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; semi-double to double-type white-colored flowers; and relatively good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium peltatum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘PACWHIPEARL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Ivy Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium peltatum, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Pacwhipearl’.

The new Ivy Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely flowering Ivy Geranium plants with uniform plant habit and attractive flower coloration.

The new Ivy Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany during the summer of 2005 of two unnamed proprietary selections of Pelargonium peltatum, not patented. The new Ivy Geranium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden, Germany in June, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Ivy Geranium plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden, Germany since December, 2006, has shown that the unique features of this new Ivy Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Pacwhipearl’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Pacwhipearl’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Ivy Geranium:

-   -   1. Compact, outwardly spreading to trailing and cascading plant         habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Semi-double to double-type white-colored flowers.     -   6. Relatively good garden performance.

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium differ primarily from plants of the parent selections in plant vigor, plant uniformity and flower color.

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium can be compared to plants of the Pelargonium peltatum ‘Guitoublanc’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,728. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Dresden, Germany, plants of the new Ivy Geranium differed from plants of ‘Guitoublanc’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium were not as compact as plants         of ‘Guitoublanc’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Ivy Geranium did not have a         distinct zonation pattern whereas leaves of plants of         ‘Guitoublanc’ had a distinct zonation pattern.     -   3. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium had larger flowers with more         petaloids than plants of ‘Guitoublanc’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Ivy Geranium plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Ivy Geranium plant. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Pacwhipearl’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 19-cm containers in Dresden, Germany in a glass-covered greenhouse during the summer and autumn under conditions which closely approximate commercial Ivy Geranium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 20° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels ranged from 15 kilolux to 75 kilolux. Plants were pinched twice and were seven months old when the photograph was taken and were nine months old when the description was taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium peltatum ‘Pacwhipearl’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Pelargonium peltatum, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Pelargonium peltatum, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 22 days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About four weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, outwardly spreading to             trailing and cascading plant habit; moderately vigorous             growth habit; rapid growth rate.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching habit with about 20             lateral branches developing per plant.         -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 30 cm.         -   Plant height, to top of leaves.—About 25 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 55 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 40 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Internode length: About 2 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Color:             Close to 138B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 6 cm.         -   Shape.—Ivy-shaped, lobed.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Entire with lobes.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Slightly pubescent;             leathery.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137A; venation, close to 137A. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C; venation,             close to 137C. Zonation pattern: Not observed. Petiole:             Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Pubescent; slightly rough. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 137C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double to double-type rounded             flowers arranged in hemispherical umbels; umbels arising             from apical leaf axils and displayed above the foliage on             strong peduncles; flowers face upright to outward depending             on position in umbel.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; numerous umbels             develop per plant, each umbel with about ten open flowers.         -   Flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about 105 days             after planting; in the garden in Dresden, Germany, plants             flower continuously from May until frost in the autumn.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about six to ten             days on the plant; umbels last about three to four weeks on             the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Umbel height.—About 5 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 9 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Roughly spindle-shaped. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five. Length: About             2.5 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded.             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening and             fully opened, upper surface: Close to 155D; venation, close             to 155D. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 155D; venation, close to 155D; occasional markings, close             to 67A.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About 25. Length: About 1 cm             to 2 cm. Width: About 5 mm to 15 mm. Shape: Irregular. Apex:             Acute to rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Rugose, glabrous; velvety. Color:             When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 155D;             venation, close to 155D. When opening and fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 155D; venation, close to 155D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: About five. Length: About             1.2 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly             pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 12 cm. Diameter: About             3 mm. Strength: Strong, flexible. Angle: Erect to outwardly             spreading. Texture: Slightly pubescent. Color: Close to             144A.         -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2 cm.             Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Strong; flexible. Texture:             Slightly pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About five. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape:             Tubular. Anther color: Close to 200A. Pollen amount: Scarce.             Pollen color: Close to 163C. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per             flower: One. Pistil length: About 5 mm. Stigma shape:             Five-parted. Stigma color: Purple red. Style length: About             1 cm. Style color: Purple red. Ovary color: Close to 148B.         -   Seeds/fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Ivy Geranium. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Ivy     Geraniums. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have been     observed to tolerate rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about     1° C. to about 35° C. to 40° C. and have demonstrated relatively     good garden performance. 

1. A new and distinct Ivy Geranium plant named ‘Pacwhipearl’ as illustrated and described. 